In its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., Apple is experimenting with wristwatch-like devices made of curved glass, according to people familiar with the company's explorations, who spoke on the condition that they not be named because they are not allowed to publicly discuss unreleased products. Such a watch would operate on Apple's iOS platform, two people said, and stand apart from competitors based on the company's understanding of how such glass can curve around the human body.

Capabilities that Apple is exploring for wearable devices remain unclear. But analysts and investors who have been tracking the field predict the company would release a product with many different functions and that the device would work closely with the iPhone.

Apple has been exploring the area for some time, according to the people briefed on the effort, and has hired employees with backgrounds in sensors and related technologies in recent years.

Call me cynical, but I see the timing of these leaks as a might suspicious.

Remember, we've all just watched Apple's stock price nose dive from a high of just over $700 last September to today's sub-$500 price, spurred on mostly by a lot of blog-driven navel gazing over whether Tim Cook can recreate the Jobsian magic or if Apple has shot its iWad and is destined to become just another consumer electronics company.

There's nothing like a little rampant rumormongering to get the fanboys hyperventilating. If you can get there ahead of Google, even better.